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Review – Ford’s First Engine

alnwlsn 2y ago
The thing I find the most interesting about this engine is that Ford did not use a spark plug. Inside the cylinder were two electrical switch contacts, and the spark was made on opening the switch. The electricity for this was provided by putting it in series with a light bulb connected to his house wiring. That's probably why it ended up in his kitchen sink - he would not have had any electricity in his garage.
- 73kl4453dz 2y ago
  Probably even a machine or carriage house (his parent's farm wouldn't have has mews) instead of what we would think of as a garage.
lisper 2y ago
Here is a working reproduction in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqU_sXyvUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqU_sXyvUg And another one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJtuNF20q8w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJtuNF20q8w
- 082349872349872 2y ago
  Both of those appear to use spark plugs; see "Comment 1" and "Comment 2" in TFA for guesses as to what Ford might have originally used for ignition instead.
Domenic_S 2y ago
I once stumbled upon what I thought was a car show, but was actually an exhibition of miniature engines (!). Is this a thing? It seems really interesting and I'd love to build a miniature engine with my kids someday.
- mhb 2y ago
  Not just engines: https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/exhibit/ https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/exhibit/
- alnwlsn 2y ago
  Apparently, yes! https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/board,45.0.html https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/board,45.0.html
jonplackett 2y ago
I hate websites that don’t allow reader view. Why do they do this?
- kwhitefoot 2y ago
  Works for me in Firefox 128.0.3 (64-bit) on Linux Mint.
  - jonplackett 2y ago
    How can I install this on my iPhone…
- tambourine_man 2y ago
  That’s not how it works. If you throw crazy markup at a Reader, it may not be able to identify what the main body of text in the page is and just give up.
marcodiego 2y ago
The engine lasted way longer than the links on picasa. An important sign about how we're handling how culture and achievements.
- mzs 2y ago
  a working gallery of all photos plus unused ones: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oq2YA8TeuDsg3az87 https://photos.app.goo.gl/oq2YA8TeuDsg3az87
tomcam 2y ago
1893. In 1908 he unleashed the Model T. I am super impressed.

The thing I find the most interesting about this engine is that Ford did not use a spark plug. Inside the cylinder were two electrical switch contacts, and the spark was made on opening the switch. The electricity for this was provided by putting it in series with a light bulb connected to his house wiring. That's probably why it ended up in his kitchen sink - he would not have had any electricity in his garage.

73kl4453dz 2y ago
Probably even a machine or carriage house (his parent's farm wouldn't have has mews) instead of what we would think of as a garage.

lisper 2y ago

Here is a working reproduction in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqU_sXyvUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKqU_sXyvUg And another one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJtuNF20q8w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJtuNF20q8w

082349872349872 2y ago
Both of those appear to use spark plugs; see "Comment 1" and "Comment 2" in TFA for guesses as to what Ford might have originally used for ignition instead.

Domenic_S 2y ago

I once stumbled upon what I thought was a car show, but was actually an exhibition of miniature engines (!). Is this a thing? It seems really interesting and I'd love to build a miniature engine with my kids someday.

mhb 2y ago
Not just engines: https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/exhibit/ https://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/exhibit/
alnwlsn 2y ago
Apparently, yes! https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/board,45.0.html https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/board,45.0.html

jonplackett 2y ago

I hate websites that don’t allow reader view. Why do they do this?

kwhitefoot 2y ago
Works for me in Firefox 128.0.3 (64-bit) on Linux Mint.
- jonplackett 2y ago
  How can I install this on my iPhone…
tambourine_man 2y ago
That’s not how it works. If you throw crazy markup at a Reader, it may not be able to identify what the main body of text in the page is and just give up.

marcodiego 2y ago

The engine lasted way longer than the links on picasa. An important sign about how we're handling how culture and achievements.

mzs 2y ago
a working gallery of all photos plus unused ones: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oq2YA8TeuDsg3az87 https://photos.app.goo.gl/oq2YA8TeuDsg3az87

tomcam 2y ago

1893. In 1908 he unleashed the Model T. I am super impressed.